Marcus Manderson (@dafingaz)
Based in Northern Virginia, Marcus Manderson (@dafingaz) is a versatile composer, educator, and creative networker specializing in trailer music, sync licensing, and music education. With a passion for crafting the perfect soundtrack to help tell stories, Marcus blends genres like hip hop, pop, R&B, ambient, afrobeats, funk/disco, cinematic, and more to create impactful, memorable music for film, television, and live events.
In 2025, Marcus composed the opening music for the Lil Jon x Pitbull World Tour and landed his first Netflix trailer placement — exciting milestones that highlight his rapid creative process and ability to deliver music that resonates globally. He continues to build on his impressive sync portfolio with placements on networks such as Starz’s BMF, MTV, BET, Bravo, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Fox.
Marcus has also composed music for Disney theme park attractions and is currently scoring a feature-length film, while his work extends to promos, trailers, and exhibits with esteemed partners like National Geographic and the Smithsonian.
Beyond composing, Marcus is a passionate educator and speaker, having organized and hosted panels at NAMM for three years running, made his debut on the SXSW stage, and participated in conferences worldwide including AES, Sync Spotlight, and the Music Sync Summit. His workshops reach audiences from middle schools to universities, inspiring diverse talent and fostering the next generation of music creators. He takes particular pride in championing representation and diversity, having spearheaded groundbreaking panels that uplift minority voices in music production and sync.
As an alum of Full Sail University and the Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Producers (LAAMP), Marcus is a proud voting member of The Recording Academy and an active member of Songwriters of North America (SONA) and the Production Music Association (PMA). He balances his career with his role as a husband, father, and dog owner, embracing travel and family time as essential parts of his creative journey.
Marcus is eager to collaborate on trailer projects, sync placements, educational initiatives, and can assist with organizing and hostingwriting camps. He welcomes partnerships that inspire innovation and broaden the impact of music.
Contact: marcusmanderson@gmail.com